By Emily McCarthy, News Staff

New Northeastern women’s basketball head coach Kelly Cole was officially introduced Wednesday at a press conference at the Cabot Center.

Cole, a Waltham resident, spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Harvard. Prior to her time with the Crimson she was an assistant at Boston College.

“For just shy of 20 years now, I’ve not only made Boston my home, but have had the opportunity to recruit highly-motivated and achievement-minded student-athletes to this fantastic city,” Cole said Wednesday. “I believe Northeastern provides a perfect combination of academic excellence and competitive athletics, all in the heart of one of the finest college and sports towns in the nation.”

Cole will replace longtime Husky Daynia La-Force, who left Huntington Avenue after eight seasons to take over as the head coach of the University of Rhode Island women’s team.

Last season, the women’s basketball team went 12-18 with a 6-10 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) record. The Huskies 2013-2014 campaign ended with a loss to the University of Delaware in the first round of the CAA tournament.

Cole will look to improve upon last year’s finish with a team that graduated just one senior last year.

“For our fans, alumni, and all those young ladies out there with hoop dreams of their own, we look forward to putting together a very exciting and dynamic style of basketball for you to watch this season,” Cole said. “I have no doubt that by combining the tremendous core of returning talent with a few fresh ideas, enthusiasm, and a lot of hard work, that the goals of the program and the university are well within our reach. I’d love to encourage everyone to join in the excitement to help us write the next chapter of championship-caliber Husky basketball.”

Photo courtesy GoNU.com